In the Philippines, whale shark tourism is a booming business. In fact, almost everyone I speak with has this activity high up on their bucket list, including myself once upon a time.
As the demand for whale shark interactions rises so does the amount of operators offering whale shark tours. With this sudden increase in demand unfortunately it often means standards of ethical practice are compromised in order to make quick dollars from tourists. Sadly whale sharks have recently been reclassified from ‘threatened’ to ‘endangered’ by the IUCN, meaning their populations have decreased globally by over 50% in the last few years.
I am no marine biology expert, but that doesn’t mean we can’t discuss how this activity could harm the animals. When I swam with whale sharks in the Philippines in 2018, it was impossible to oversee how artificial and manufactured the whole experience was. Since then, I have been asking myself some tricky questions.
Is the feeding of endangered species for tourism purposes ethically problematic and morally wrong?
Is feeding migratory animals in order to keep them in one area for human pleasure a serious concern?
What is the long term impact of this human interaction on the whale sharks?
Let’s take a closer look into what goes on.
In a small town called Oslob, found near the southern tip of Cebu Island in the Philippines, whale shark tourism is a huge attraction for people who want to watch, swim with, and take photographs next to the world’s biggest fish.
In Oslob the whale shark watching operation is the largest such venture in the world since it began in 2011, pulling in hundreds of people daily. However the operation is highly controversial because the whale sharks don’t naturally gather here, unlike other sites in the Philippines. So why do they come? Because humans are feeding them, and who blames anyone for indulging in free food?
What does a day in Oslob look like?
At 6am the crowds start to gather for their sign-in and short briefing. Visitors are told “no touching, no riding, no suncream” then swiftly moved to the beach for collection of a life jacket before scrambling into a board outrigger boat. Approximately 150 feet from the shore is the “interaction area” where boats line up and tourists can jump into the water. Also in this area, in small one-man canoes, are the feeders, who dish out handfuls of thawed shrimp breakfast for the waiting and hungry whale sharks.
Boats full of people roll in and out from the beach at a fast rate to keep up with the amount of tourists who want to take part. Whilst the feeders are continuously feeding the animals to keep them interested. To be honest it’s more like a zoo than an authentic experience.
Although laws are in place to protect the whale sharks, research in Oslob shows that more than 95% of swimmers touch or get too close. In my case, often inadvertently because space is tight and the fish are big. One actually swam right into me and then smacked me with its tail as it passed for more shrimp breakfast.
Feeding ceases at 11am sharp. The whale sharks dissipate and the boatmen disperse. The action is all over until tomorrow.
Is Feeding Animals Ok?
Ecotourism in its best light draws humans into the habitat of the animals they encounter. NOT the other way around. Ecotourism has a low impact on ecosystems and a demonstrable conservation value. I don’t think that’s exactly what is happening in Oslob.
The Junk Food Diet
The shrimp they are feeding on is a less diverse mix of planktonic creatures than they would be consuming naturally, meaning they are losing out on some of the key nutrients that they would otherwise gain from foraging naturally. It’s as if we are feeding them processed junk food. It’s not a healthy diet. What effect does this have their growth and reproduction? The worry of scientists is that if the whale sharks take advantage of the free junk food for a prolonged period of time they may suffer ill effects physically, physiologically and behaviourally.
Disrupting Migration Patterns
Another unanswered question is; what happens to these migratory animals when they remain in one place for an extended period of time? What effect does this have on their patterns of movement and social interaction? While reputable institutions are conducting research on the influence of feeding the whale sharks, the answer still remains very much a grey area of unanswered questions. Marine biologists predict it could alter their breeding habits and ultimately their reproduction. In my opinion, for an animal that is now classified as an endangered species risks regarding reproduction should be taken very seriously.
Behaviour changes
Very sadly, after the whale sharks are fed at Oslob they often then associate boats with free food. This connection could leave them injured by boat propellers or in more serious danger if they approach a whale-shark fishing vessel. Although the waters in the Philippines are protected by poaching laws, there is still a black market and high demand for whale shark meat. In fact, a single body can fetch up to tens of thousands of dollars, therefore sadly this awful act of poaching still persists.
Is it for the selfie?
The increasing popularity with the whale shark operation is clearly in correlation with the increase in social media presence. When I visited Oslob for myself, most people were more obsessed with their smartphones than watching the incredible beasts.
A study that asked tourists in Oslob on their perception of the whale shark operation found that many recognised the whole event may be ethically problematic and morally wrong, however were happy to participate. Is this because they are too excited about sharing their new Instagram post?
There are 650 identified whale sharks in the Philippines and out of those a quarter have been sighted in Oslob. I think that’s a significant portion of the population that are being exposed to unknown survival risks for the sake of human entertainment.
Let’s get positive
Let’s look at this in another light. In 1988 the whale sharks were given national legal protection in the Philippines. Prior to 1988 hundreds of whale sharks were killed for their meat, fins, oil and skin. Although there is some poaching still, it’s on a much smaller scale. So, although this whale shark feeding industry may not be ideal for the whale sharks at least they are not being killed.
Reduction in Fishing Pressure
Another positive side effect of the whale shark watching operation is a reduction in fishing pressure in and around Oslob. This is due to the 170 individuals that are working in the industry that are no longer dependant on catching fish from the depleted reefs to earn a living. Likewise, the fisherman can earn a living by supplying the mass quantities of shrimp needed each day to feed the whale sharks. This in result places less pressure on the declining and precious fish stock.
Helping Local Economy
Although I prefer to put vulnerable innocent creatures before human economy, it is worth mentioning how much the local people of Oslob now rely on the whale shark tourism to provide income. Apparently 60% of the revenue goes to the fishermen, 30% to the municipality and 10% to the village. The boom in tourism also helps hostels, guesthouse, boat men, bus drivers and restaurant owner, just to name a few. The small town thrives from the industry which means people don’t have to move away to the big cities like Cebu City or Manila to find decent money.
All from throwing shrimps into the mouths of big hungry fish?
Is there a way I can swim with whale sharks in a sustainable and ethical way?
YES! Luckily for us, all around the world there are many great companies working to support sustainable whale shark excursions and interactions.
Donsol in the Philippines has the world’s largest congregation of whale sharks and is the best place to interact with these incredible animals without compromising their natural habitat. The whale sharks of Donsol stay in this natural environment longer than any other place in the world. With simple snorkelling equipment, you will get the opportunity to swim alongside the gentle giants. Check out Donsol EcoTours.
Donsolis a small village on the island of Luzon where whale shark ecotourism is thriving. Unlike other whale shark interactions, such as the one at Oslob, the whale sharks at Donsol do not get fed. Instead, they naturally migrate here during December to May. Each day only 30 boats are permitted in the bay at once and a strict maximum of 6 people per boat. The whale shark tourism in Donsol has given the community a boost in local economy. It has also replaced the jobs of fishermen who once poached whale sharks to making effort to sustain their lives.
Other destinations offering sustainable whale shark excursions and interactions include:
Cancun, Mexico | Read More |
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia | Read More |
Utila in Honduras, Central America
Dhigurah Island, Maldives | Read More |
As I have become more interested over the past year of what’s sustainable and ethically correct, to me it is simple; wildlife should not be fed or disturbed, especially if they are an endangered species. As a tourist we should not support it. Unfortunately, with lack of evidence behind the effects of this act there are no signs of whale shark feeding slowing down.
So what is next?
I hope this post opened your mind so potential negative effects the whale shark watching industry has on the animals. However, I am definitely not proposing this all comes to an immediate stop. That would have catastrophic effect on the whale sharks that are dependant on the food as well as the locals who are dependant on the income. All I ask is that we raise our voices. Lets all get talking about this issue and putting pressure on authorities and tour agencies to correctly regulate the industry. This will hopefully put in place a safer practice for the future. As a community of conscious travellers, our voices are enough to make these changes, just like we did for the mistreated tigers and elephants in Thailand.
For more information about conservation projects: Marine Megafauna Foundation, Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Ecocean, and Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.
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